Exhibitors

Introduction

The
Book of Origins: A Survey of American Fine Binding has its genesis
in an international set binding exhibition organized by Les
Amis de la Reliure d'Art du Canada. The bilingual letterpress text
tells the creation story of the Huron people in French and in English,
through expressive typography and original lithographs. Le Livre des
Origines/The Book of Origins opened at Bibliothèque Gabrielle-Roy,
Quebec City, in September of 2005 and traveled to the Grande Bibliothèque
of Montreal and the National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France.

The 2007 traveling exhibition features twenty contemporary fine bindings
by ten American binders. The group includes established masters as well
as gifted emerging artists. Two works are presented by each binder: their
binding in response to the set Book of Origins text, and an additional
example of their work.

The binders represented in The Book of Origins: A Survey of American
Fine Binding have noted that the majority of book arts exhibition
opportunities in the United States are limited to nontraditional book
forms. We are committed to presentation of, and education about, the art
and craft of fine binding.

It is my hope that The Book of Origins: A Survey of American Fine
Binding will increase the visibility of fine binding among the general
public and within the Book Arts community, as well as encourage more binders
to create their own exhibition opportunities.

Karen Hanmer, Curator

About the text

Le Livre des Origines/The Book of Origins, 2005

Huron creation myth collected in 1940s by ethnologist Marius Barbeau,
this text authored by André Ricard. Text includes original the
French side by side with an English translation. Graphic design by Jean
Michaud and Stéphane Vallée. Five color lithographs by Carmelle
Martineau, tipped in at the binders' discretion. Letterpress on Mohawk
superfine, 8-1/2 x 5-1/2 inches, 144 pages, edition of 125.

A complete description of the text and original exhibition can be viewed
at ARA-Canada's
Website.